nifty learning tools

I’m keen on Kanban 101. It does a nice job of explaining the concept of flow as it applies to lean thinking. This quote is particularly good: 

To achieve efficiency, minimize disruptions and distractions. Work should enter the development process and proceed through it smoothly and continuously.

It’s also applicable to work that isn’t using kanban; lean concepts are relevant to anyone. No disruptions and smooth, continuous work totally apply within agile teams’ iterations, for instance, or anyone’s tasks.

Speaking of anyone’s tasks: I finally found a non-irritating-to-others tomato timer online (there are a few, actually, but this one has nice typography). Not that I’m consistently using the pomodoro technique – so much of my current job description amounts to basically “be available for interruptions and immediate problem-solving” aka squashing tomatoes – but when I do, the timer on my screen allows me to keep focus on screen (vs. objects around me). A physical timer would be handier for off-screen tasks.